New York’s Times Square beamed messages on Kashmir Siege in solidarity with the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir on Tuesday. The messages appeared on the billboards to highlight the Kashmir siege. “Kashmiris Lives Matter” read the message on the billboard in white and red letters.
1 year ago today – India lost any pretensions of diversity & accepting Muslims as equal members in its body politics. Today as Modi inaugurates the Ram Mandir on Babri Mosque site he drives another spear through Nehru's India. 🙏 for Muslim Indians &South Asia. #5thAugustBlackDay
— Najma Minhas (@MinhasNajma) August 5, 2020
Another billboard read the message of “Kashmir Siege Day”. The messages also showed up two hands raised in protest depicting the struggles and frustration of Kashmiris against Indian aggression, particularly after a forced siege of one year by the Indian government.
Times Square: Kashmir Siege
A year ago, India ended the autonomy of its only Muslim-majority state.
Delhi is marking that anniversary by inaugurating the construction of a Hindu temple on the grounds of a mosque destroyed by Hindu extremists.
Two big wins for the BJP. Two big losses for pluralistic India.— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) August 5, 2020
Asad Khan, the ambassador of Pakistan to the USA, shared the scenes of New York’s Times Square flashing messages on Kashmir Siege on Twitter.
“Scenes at Times Square as Kashmiris mark a full year of their imprisonment on August 5. That is one full year of forced disappearances, torture, and a siege that has been intensified on the pretext of Covid-19. #LetKashmirSpeak #OneYearSiege”, the caption of the post read.
Scenes @TimesSquareNYC as Kashmiris mark a full year of their imprisonment on August 5. That is one full year of forced disappearances, torture, and a siege that has been intensified on the pretext of Covid-19. #LetKashmirSpeak #OneYearSiege pic.twitter.com/kFBC8bzZkj
— Asad M. Khan (@asadmk17) August 3, 2020
The message of protests appeared on the billboards on the occasion of completion of one year of lockdown and curfew in Jammu Kashmir. The message of Indian aggression in Kashmir started appearing on billboards at New York’s Times Square on Monday and will continue to appear for a week to highlight the atrocities of Indian government and armed forces in the valley internationally.
Read more: ISPR releases new song ‘Leave My Valley’ to show Indian aggression in Kashmir
On August 5, the Kashmiri community is planning to stage protests at New York’s Times Square and outside UN Headquarters. Meanwhile, Indian Muslims are also planning to hold similar protests since the Indian government will be celebrating its forced annexation of Kashmir and will lay the foundation of the temple at Ayodhya- the site of destruction of Babri mosque, the same day.
“A year after what happened on Aug 5, 2019, most of our fears and warnings to the international community have proven to be right,” said Ambassador Khan while addressing a seminar in New York.
“Motivated by BJP’s Hindu supremacist agenda, India aims to shift the demographics of Kashmir and is using the bogey of terrorism to divert the world’s attention,” he added.
“This should open everyone’s eyes. The Indian government is targeting all minorities, not just Muslims.”
Human rights activists, Kashmiri, and Pakistani communities from across the world will be taking to streets to denounce the abhorrent use of force and power by the Indian government and aggression in Jammu Kashmir as siege entered its second year on August 5th, 2020.
#KashmiriLivesMatter makes it to the UK parliament building and Marble Arch in London on August 5th #YoumeIstehsal pic.twitter.com/msSKf2pCpL
— Hassan Akbar (@hass_akbr) August 5, 2020
Meanwhile, #5thAugustBlackDay is trending atop on social media today. Social media users are expressing solidarity and condemning the year-long lockdown in the valley. The year-long lockdown has paralyzed the routine life of people in Jammu Kashmir. Also, the reckless actions of the Indian government and armed forces have far exceeded the denial of human rights in the valley.
ISPR song: Kashmir Siege
ISPR has released a new song Leave My Valley to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Indian Occupied Kashmir. The song titled, ‘Leave My Valley’ is released on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal on August 5- as Pakistan is bracing up to commemorate a year of forced annexation of Jammu and Kashmir by India.
India had forcefully annexed Jammu and Kashmir on August 5th, 2019 following the revocation of Article 370 and 35-A-that dissolved the semi-autonomous status of the valley Jammu Kashmir. The annulment of the articles turned Jammu Kashmir into Indian territory. Several parts of the valley are under siege after the Indian government imposed a curfew, lockdown, and clamp down communication to restrict free movement and anticipated protests and uprising from people of Jammu Kashmir.
Pakistan’s ace singer Shafqat Amanat Ali has sung the song Leave My Valley. Sahir Ali Bagga has composed the song.
In a description of the song, the ISPR noted that it is “in solidarity with the Kashmiris” and has been released ahead of “5th Aug 20 marks [which] one year of abrogation of Article 370 and lockdown & curfew in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)”.
Read more: Kashmir issue will not be settled by means of speeches & majority decisions but by iron &…
“Kashmir uprising, sufferings of Kashmiris & human rights violations by Indian Army have been highlighted,” it added.
The ISPR shared the song Leave My Valley on its official YouTube account under the #KashmirSeigeDay and #YoumeIstehsal.
Youm-e-Istehsal: August 5th
A tribute to the brave people of Kashmir and their relentless struggle for Freedom.
link: https://t.co/LjahOSrEvx#KashmirSeigeDay#YoumeIstehsal— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) August 2, 2020
Meanwhile, Pakistan will be marking August 5th as the Youm-e-Istehsal day countrywide. The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi urged the nation to raise voice against the military siege New Delhi imposed the valley of Jammu and Kashmir a year ago. He said people of Pakistan should convey the message to the Kashmiri that they are not alone in their fight against oppression on Youm-e-Istehsal day on August 5. He expressed these views while speaking to media after Eid-ul-Adha prayers.